Today's Manufacturing Pulse
Stellantis to pour $1.08B into next‑gen EV line at Mulhouse plant
President Emmanuel Macron announced Stellantis will invest more than €1 billion (about $1.08 billion) in a next‑generation electric‑vehicle production line at its Mulhouse facility, slated to start in 2029 as part of France’s push to electrify two‑thirds of new cars by 2030.
Also developing:
By the numbers: TIEA Connectors raises $8M Series A
Carmakers Rush to Secure Aluminium as Middle East War Hits Supply
Automakers are accelerating aluminium purchases as the Israel‑Hamas conflict disrupts key smelting hubs in the Middle East. Export restrictions and port closures have tightened global supply, pushing spot prices above $2,500 per metric ton. Companies such as Volkswagen, Toyota and GM are signing multi‑year contracts with alternative producers in Europe and North America to lock in volumes. The scramble is raising production costs and prompting a reassessment of material sourcing strategies across the sector.
GAC Shines at Egypt Auto Show with EMZOOM, Pioneering Expansion in North Africa
GAC used the Automorrow 2026‑Egypt International Motor Show to showcase its EMZOOM, EMPOW and GS4 MAX models, aligning its product lineup with Egypt’s rising demand for new‑energy vehicles. The Egyptian NEV market is expanding at a 12.03% compound annual growth rate,...
Iran War Threatens Global Food Supply Chains
The Iran war has choked the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting shipments of fertilizer and liquefied natural gas that underpin global food production. About one‑third of seaborne fertilizer, 35% of nitrogen‑based urea and 45% of sulfur exports now face delays, pushing...
What Should You Consider When Choosing a Ring Light for Optical Inspection and Quality Control with Digital Microscopes?
Lighting is the linchpin of optical inspection with 4K digital microscopes, and a professional ring light supplies the brightness needed for sharp, low‑noise images without increasing camera gain. Sufficient illumination lets users narrow the aperture for greater depth of field...
Key Progress at New Kwinana Hydrogen Hub, as Nearby Bp Project Remains on Pause
The Future Energy Exports CRC (Fenex CRC) has secured a contract with Pacific Energy to supply two electrolysers and has launched Front End Engineering Design for Stage 2 of the Kwinana Energy Transformation Hub (KETH). Backed by an A$163 million (~US$108 million) research...
Supply Chain Data Science Demands Broad, Practical Skills
𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗜 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀. It isn't. And the graphic I've shared proves it. I've been studying the research behind what it actually takes to be a practical...
Ruthless Steel Magnate Stitches Himself, Keeps Working
Most people know Andrew Carnegie but not as many know his business partner, Henry Clay Frick. Frick was younger than Carnegie but ruthless. He had a monopoly on coke (a key ingredient for steel), and together they built a steel empire. They made...
Sungrow Hydrogen Expands Global Presence with Cross-Continental Shipments
Sungrow Hydrogen announced the shipment of green hydrogen systems to projects in Oman, Italy and Brazil, marking its first deliveries across three continents. The company supplied 160 MW of alkaline electrolysis units for a green ammonia venture in Oman, a 3 MW...
Robot Turns Pixels Into Torque for 30+ Motors
this is fully autonomous...the robot is reasoning from camera pixels and computing torque to control it's 30+ motors
Chevrolet Ends Production of Original Bolt EV/EUV
#TechTuesday. December 20, 2023. Production of the original Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV officially ended. (Wood TV 8) #EV #Automobile #Industry https://t.co/cIJGyy6WaM
Hastings McCain Vegetable Factory to Shut in 2027, Jobs at Risk
McCain Foods announced that its vegetable processing plant in Hastings, New Zealand, will cease operations by 31 January 2027 after a strategic review of its ANZ supply model. The facility, which handled more than 50,000 tonnes of peas, beans, sweetcorn and carrots each year,...
Robin Zeng Claims US EV Market Needs CATL Tech
The Chinese Billionaire Who Says America’s EV Market Is Doomed Without Him—Robin Zeng of CATL can’t build a factory in America, but Ford and GM rely on its technology @Kubota_Yoko @christopherotts https://t.co/tIRVSfDXPe https://t.co/tIRVSfDXPe
ADMARES Unveils High-Tech Housing Manufacturing with ABB Robotics
Swedish modular housing firm ADMARES announced a strategic partnership with ABB Robotics to equip its upcoming Smart Factory with AI-driven robotics, software and hardware. The collaboration brings together a network of technology partners, including Porsche Consulting, Siemens, NVIDIA and EDAG,...
Toyota Commits $1 Billion to Upgrade Two U.S. Plants Amid $10 Billion Expansion Plan
Toyota announced a $1 billion investment—$800 million for its Georgetown, Kentucky plant and $200 million for Princeton, Indiana—to expand production of the Camry, RAV4 and Grand Highlander. The spending is the first tranche of a broader $10 billion U.S. expansion that could reshape domestic...
Model T Succeeded After Nine Failed Ford Prototypes
“success did not come easy. the model T was ford's ninth attempt at producing a profitable automobile, after models A, B, C, E, N, R, S, and K all proved relative failures.” https://t.co/afusdFZddJ
America's WWII Industrial Mobilization: The Untold Story
“how this remarkable mobilization of american industry, technology, and material production happened remains the great untold story of world war II.” https://t.co/uLEMiAoxFI
Latrobe Takes Leap Forward with High-Grade Magnesium Production
Latrobe Magnesium completed a two‑week continuous run at its Hazelwood North demonstration plant, producing roughly 20 tonnes of magnesium oxide (MgO) at about 90 % purity. The result validates the company’s patented hydrometallurgical flowsheet, which requires only minor adjustments to exceed 95 %...
Forge Photonics Signs Navigation Systems Deal with Mission Systems for Subsea Drones
Canberra‑based Forge Photonics has inked a deal with Sydney defence firm Mission Systems to equip its undersea drones with fibre‑optic gyroscope navigation modules. The technology, spun out of Australian National University research on gravitational‑wave detection, delivers GPS‑free, low‑detectability positioning using...
Treventus Robot Scans 2,500 Pages Hourly
Treventus Scan #Robot Digitizes Up to 2,500 Pages Per Hour by @AadityaAnand_11 #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #Technology https://t.co/BJ6iZCUonv
Over 11,000 Munitions in 16 Days of the Iran War: ‘Command of the Reload’ Governs Endurance
In the first 16 days of the Iran conflict, coalition forces have expended 11,294 advanced munitions, costing roughly $26 billion. The rapid consumption has sharply depleted high‑end interceptors, long‑range strike missiles and sensor‑command assets, leaving critical stockpiles vulnerable. Industrial bottlenecks—particularly in...
KRICT Researchers Develop 4D Printed Polymers Redefining Soft Robotics
Researchers at Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) have created a sulfur‑based polymer that can be 4D‑printed into soft‑robotic components. The material, derived from abundant industrial sulfur waste, can change shape in response to heat, near‑infrared light, or magnetic...
Lockheed Martin Australia Explores Manufacturing-Backed Sustainment Model for HIMARS Fleet
Lockheed Martin Australia announced a partnership with Rheinmetall Defence Australia to develop a domestic sustainment model for the expanding HIMARS fleet. The two firms will assess existing manufacturing facilities in Queensland and South Australia to provide through‑life support, spare‑parts logistics,...
Additive Business Update: 3D Systems, Materialise, Stratasys, and More
3D Systems reported a 12% YoY revenue decline for 2025, with healthcare down 5% and industrial solutions down 17%, though adjusted figures show a smaller dip after the Geomagic divestiture. The company confirmed Phyllis Nordstrom as permanent CFO while highlighting...
Study: Retailers Struggle to Serve Impatient Consumers as Fulfillment Costs Rise
Retailers worldwide are feeling the squeeze as global logistics and fulfillment costs have risen more than 20% over the past three years. At the same time, 66% of shoppers now bounce across two or more channels before buying, fragmenting the...
Survey: Trucking Fleets Face “Procurement Paralysis” Due to Shifting Business Climate
A Fleet Advantage survey reveals that nearly half of U.S. heavy‑duty trucking executives are stuck in "procurement paralysis" as shifting tariffs and low‑emission engine mandates create uncertainty about new truck purchases. The indecision has forced fleets to keep older trucks...
LG Display Starts Mass-Producing LTPO-Like 1 Hz LCD Displays for Laptops
LG Display has begun mass production of Oxide 1Hz LCD panels for laptops, which automatically shift refresh rates from 1 Hz to up to 120 Hz based on on‑screen activity. The technology, derived from low‑temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) concepts, claims a 48 percent battery‑life...
MODEX 2026: NORD to Showcase Modular Drive Technologies for Intelligent Automation
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS will exhibit its latest high‑efficiency drive technologies at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, booth B14136. The lineup includes IE5+ permanent‑magnet synchronous motors delivering up to 95% efficiency, a range of centralized and decentralized NORDAC electronic controls, and the modular...
MODEX 2026: Swisslog to Showcase Flexible, Scalable Warehouse Technologies
Swisslog used MODEX 2026 to unveil AgileStore, a 4‑way roaming pallet shuttle designed for high‑density, flexible storage, and its SynQ orchestration platform that unifies WMS, WES and WCS functions. The AgileStore system can travel forward, backward, laterally and vertically, allowing...
Market Shifts Powering the Growth of Sterile Injectable Manufacturing
The sterile injectable contract manufacturing market is rapidly evolving as demand surges for both large‑scale biologics and niche, small‑batch therapies. Leading CDMOs are responding by expanding production capacity, building global redundancy, and investing heavily in specialized talent. Development and pre‑commercial...
CubeSpace Challenges Vertical Integration with Record ADCS Production Milestone
On March 23, 2026 CubeSpace announced a production surge, shipping 2,118 standalone ADCS units and 71 mission‑tailored systems in January‑February. The South African firm claims its modular ADCS can cut costs by 50% compared with in‑house solutions, while maintaining an 8‑12‑week lead...
How AI Is Solving HACCP Documentation and Quality Control (and What Execs Should Know Before Buying)
AI-driven platforms are transforming HACCP documentation, shrinking plan creation from weeks to roughly 30 minutes and adding real‑time monitoring, vision inspection, and predictive analytics. The global AI food‑safety market, valued at $2.7 billion in 2024, is projected to hit $13.7 billion by...
Radiate Engineering & Design Introduces FlyBlocks – a Production-Ready Structuralairframe Platform for Long-Range VTOL UAV Applications
Radiate Engineering & Design AG of Zurich launched FlyBlocks, a production‑ready structural airframe platform targeting professional B2B VTOL UAVs focused on long‑range missions. The modular system includes three scalable models—VT‑14, VT‑22 and VT‑30—covering MTOW from 5 kg to 28 kg and ranges...
60 Minutes Catches Up to America’s Shipbuilding Crisis Long Flagged by Maritime Industry
A 60 Minutes segment highlighted the widening gap between U.S. shipyards and Asian rivals, underscoring a long‑standing shipbuilding crisis. South Korean conglomerate Hanwha announced up to $5 billion to expand Philadelphia’s Philly Shipyard, aiming to boost annual output from under two...
Focusing on Human-Centered Innovation: A Conversation with Karli Sage
Karli Sage, VP of Supply Chain Management, Technology and Engineering at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, is championing "human‑centered innovation" by deploying warehouse automation, drones, collaborative robots, and decision‑intelligence software that serve employees first. She emphasizes that technology should simplify...
CEA-Leti and Fraunhofer IPMS Validate Wafer Exchange for Ferroelectric Memory Materials Within the FAMES Pilot Line
CEA‑Leti and Fraunhofer IPMS have completed the first exchange of ferroelectric memory wafers within the EU‑funded FAMES Pilot Line, proving a shared platform for advanced embedded non‑volatile memory development. The exchange used 300 mm CMOS cleanrooms to process hafnium‑zirconium oxide (HZO)...
BlueOval SK Delays Layoffs at Kentucky Battery Plant
Ford and SK On are winding down their $11.4 billion BlueOval SK battery joint venture, prompting a delay in the planned layoffs at the Glendale, Kentucky plant. The initial cut of roughly 1,500 workers, slated for mid‑February, has been pushed back, with...
Everlane Partners With Masters of Flax Fibre for Fully Traceable Collection
Everlane has teamed up with Masters of Flax Fibre to launch a fully traceable linen collection sourced from cooperative farms in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The linen is grown without irrigation or GMOs and uses a 100 percent mechanical, zero‑waste...
Helium Atom Lithography Promises Chips Ten Times Smaller
Introducing Ⓛ 𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗬 A novel approach to chip-making that can extend Moore's Law 10x beyond what is possible with light — to atomic resolution. News today: "Manufacturers use light-based lithography systems made by the Dutch company ASML, which dominates the market....
Iran War Triggers Global Inflation and Supply Chain Strain
Goldman Sachs: Brace for worldwide inflation surge. The supply shortages created with the Iran war. What will that do to demand, China & other exports, inventory, supply chains, and logistics? Especially the transportation modes.
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Exel Composites announced that its Erlanger, Kentucky factory has earned ISO 14001 certification, confirming a robust environmental management system. The certification validates the plant’s waste‑reduction, energy‑efficiency and chemical‑use initiatives and embeds the Plan‑Do‑Check‑Act (PDCA) cycle into daily operations. It aligns the...
US Battery Production Surge Powers Grid Expansion
Suddenly, the US manufactures a ton of grid batteries #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/1sjR9THvtK
US‑Made Routers Rare; Waiver Requires Specific Criteria
Is any router made within the US? What will it take to receive a waiver?
ABB Adds Symphony PLus to Automation Extended
ABB has released SPR2025, the latest Symphony Plus distributed control system (DCS) package, integrating its Automation Extended platform. The update adds system‑wide OPC UA, an Ethernet backbone, and support for modern Microsoft operating systems and virtualization platforms, enabling secure, interoperable...
Hanwha’s US Shipyard Builds One Ship Yearly, Korea Weekly
"The Hanwha Philly shipyard delivers around 1 ship a year. A South Korean Hanwha shipyard delivers 1 a week." https://t.co/OwUFfT0mmc
Supply Chain Flaws Become Visible only During Crises
We don’t find out we have a supply chain problem when everything is fine; we find out when we’re in a crisis and the shelves are empty. https://t.co/I0LD02tiAd
Source Logistics Selects IFS Softeon WMS, Supported by Alpine Supply Chain Solutions, to Accelerate Rapid Nationwide Expansion
Source Logistics, a fast‑growing 3PL with 25 warehouses and over 5.8 million square feet of FDA‑ and SQF‑compliant space, has selected IFS Softeon’s warehouse management system to power its nationwide expansion. The Softeon platform offers multi‑tenant architecture, strong API integration and...
U.S. Relies on Canadian Manufacturing Amid NAFTA Talks
Leaving Canada high and dry could backfire, as the U.S. benefits greatly from Canadian manufacturing. We'll see how the strategy changes throughout these NAFTA negotiations. #NAFTA #trade #geopolitics https://t.co/G5bk8aSGAU
LEGO‑style Modular Robots Adapt to Any Task
Modular #Robots That Reconfigure Like LEGO for Any Task or Environment via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #Technology https://t.co/kGyGT43Cy9
Boom's New SEM Paves Way for World's Best
We just ordered Boom's first Scanning Electron Microscope. Extremely serious materials development is now happening. I think by the end of this year Boom will have the most advanced turbine blade manufacturing anywhere in the world.